MOPPING-UP JAPANESE

Southland Times, Issue 24838, 2 September 1942, Page 5

MOPPING-UP JAPANESE

TROOPS~HIDE IN JUNGLE

(Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11.50 p.m.) Sydney, Sept. 1. Fighting at Milne Bay continues as the victorious Australian troops mop up scattered remnants of the enemy. The latest reports from General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters indicate that the struggle is no longer on a grand scale and the clashes involve only small groups of Japanese. Because of the dense jungle country in which the abandoned Japanese are hiding some time may elapse before the last of them are cleaned out. The enemy troops landed at Milne Bay are believed to have been crack assault marines of the Imperial Navy.

Although eye-witnesses’ accounts do not suggest any major battle during the brief campaign, there were several spirited local engagements. The battleground extended from the foothills of Mt. Thompson to the edge of Milne Bay. The final enemy offensive spasm occurred on Monday, when several enemy fighters

made a weak attack near an Allied air-field in the Milne Bay area. No damage resulted.

World newspapers pay a tribute to the Australians for their victory over the Japanese. They emphasize that following the heavy blow struck by the United States Marines in the Solomons Japan has lost face twice in a short period. AMERICAN PRAISE

Government sources at Washington praise the “grim Australian legions, whose courage and tenacity in beating back the Japanese Milne Bay invaders are an inspiration.” The Evening Standard, London, says: “The South-West Pacific has again proved its claim, to aid “not only by reason of its geographical position, but also by the great performances of its fighting men.” There is a general belief that the Japanese will strike again and that further hard fighting in New Guinea is inevitable. Indeed, fierce clashes are now taking place in the mountainous jungle country around Kokoda, where the Japanese appear to have flung fresh troops into action. Our fighter planes are co-operating with the Australian ground forces in this area by strafing enemy positions. Allied bombers are maintaining their hammering of Japanese bases, the latest heavy raid being on the aerodrome at Lae, where 10 tons of bombs were dropped among grounded aircraft, buildings, installations and fuel dumps. Several buildings were blown up and many grounded planes were destroyed. Fires started in the raid, which caught the enemy by surprise, could be seen 30 miles away. No interception was attempted by the Japanese. It is thought they were working to repair planes previously damaged on the aerodrome when our bombers struck. At Buna our heavy bombers attacked an enemy camp starting fires and silencing anti-aircraft positions. GREATER BATTLES AHEAD The Australians’ natural elation at the victory at Milne Bay is well expressed by The Sun, Sydney, which says: “Not in this area alone will its effects add strength to the arms of the United Nations. The victory of our jungle fighters will surely reverberate throughout China and India and its tonic effect will hearten and inspire every country which had reason to fear Japanese domination of the Pacific. But make no mistake—there will be greater and more critical battles than Milne Bay and they must be won. Rabaul is the key to the situation. Until the enemy is hurled from that base the Southwest Pacific cannot feel secure.”